Feeling Bullied? Here’s Michigan’s Anti Bullying Laws.

How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations?

Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:

“Bullying” means any written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication, including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

(i)  Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.

(ii)  Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.

(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.

(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

“Cyberbullying” means any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

(i)  Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.

(ii)  Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.

(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.

(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 380.1310b (2016)

Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?

No. 

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Which Michigan state laws and regulations cover bullying?

• Michigan Compiled Laws §380.1310b. Policy prohibiting bullying; adoption and implementation; public hearing; submission of policy to department; contents of policy; annual report of incidents of bullying; form and procedure; school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or parent or guardian reporting act of bullying to school official; modified policy; definitions; section to be known as “Matt Epling Safe School Law.”
• Michigan Compiled Laws §380.1310c. Restorative practices as alternative or in addition to suspension or expulsion; definitions
• Michigan Compiled Laws §388.1631a. Allocations to eligible districts and eligible public school academies; proficiencies; funding eligibility; early literacy and numeracy; multi-tiered system of supports; weighted foundation per-pupil payment for economically disadvantaged pupils; school breakfast program; primary health care services; hearing and vision screenings; report; audit; implementation of schoolwide reform in schools with at-risk pupils; research-based professional development; instructional or behavioral coaches; prorated payments; dissolved district; anti-bullying or crisis intervention program; assignment of Pathways to Potential Success coaches; definitions
• Michigan Compiled Laws §750.411t. Hazing prohibited; violation; penalty; exceptions; certain defenses barred; definitions; section title.

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Definition of Bullying

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education released the first federal definition of bullying. The definition includes three core elements:

• unwanted aggressive behavior
• observed or perceived power imbalance
• repetition or high likelihood of repetition of bullying behaviors

This definition helps determine whether an incident is bullying or another type of aggressive behavior or both.

Research on Bullying

Bullying prevention is a growing research field that investigates the complexities and consequences of bullying. Important areas for more research include:

• Prevalence of bullying in schools
• Prevalence of cyberbullying in online spaces
• How bullying affects people
• Risk factors for people who are bullied, people who bully others, or both
• How to prevent bullying
• How media and media coverage affects bullying

What We’ve Learned about Bullying

• Bullying affects all youth, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying. The effects of bullying may continue into adulthood.
• There is not a single profile of a young person involved in bullying. Youth who bully can be either well connected socially or marginalized, and may be bullied by others as well. Similarly, those who are bullied sometimes bully others.
• Solutions to bullying are not simple. Bullying prevention approaches that show the most promise confront the problem from many angles. They involve the entire school community—students, families, administrators, teachers, and staff such as bus drivers, nurses, cafeteria and front office staff—in creating a culture of respect. Zero tolerance and expulsion are not effective approaches.
• Bystanders, or those who see bullying, can make a huge difference when they intervene on behalf of someone being bullied.
• Studies also have shown that adults can help prevent bullying by talking to children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, modeling kindness and respect, and seeking help.

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